Author Topic: The NBA thread (Read 1506389 times)

jakefromstatefarm · « **Reply #20160 on:** May 20, 2018, 10:31:16 PM »

Houston got their backs blown out. Game 4s gonna determine whether this goes 5 games or 7. They have serious defensive issues with golden state and couldn’t generate consistent offense tonight either. PJ had his super bowl already in game 2, if Gordon and Paul play pedestrian than who else do they go to? Their options are legit Green, ryno and iso joe :dame

agrajag · « **Reply #20161 on:** May 20, 2018, 10:38:31 PM »

Looked just like game one. Paul and Harden looking to play iso ball every possession and taking very low percentage shots.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20162 on:** May 21, 2018, 01:19:13 AM »

I mean it was always a hard delusion to buy into that the Rockets could pull out the series but that game was the deathknell for it. Just an utter beatdown and prime example of what the Warriors are capable of when they care.

I didn't even think the Warriors actually played that well in the first half. The Rockets just played that poorly.

Not that the rockets can't steal individual games. But when a game matters, you know both teams really know what is going to happen.

Nola · « **Reply #20163 on:** May 21, 2018, 01:44:34 AM »

I guess in my mind the only way the Rockets still or ever did have a chance was by catching the Warriors flat footed and/or Curry not being healthy enough to be Curry, and except for one game that hasn't really happened.

On paper the Warriors are stronger, deeper, and more versatile. Hard to find a way past that in the NBA during a 7 game series.

I definitely think they can play a tighter game than they did tonight, but IDK, how many wins that can translate to seems low.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20164 on:** May 21, 2018, 02:06:29 AM »

I don't like to critique the Rockets in a normal manner because generally speaking, I think all criticism of the Warriors opponents, should be framed in the context that they are playing an unmovable force. So its kind of silly to nitpick other teams because its silly to pretend that with one or two tweaks you can beat the Warriors. It's a pointless exercise.

I will say that if this series continues on its current trajectory, ultimately I think the model they have for beating them is no more likely to succeed than some other potential models. It puts so much pressure on James Harden that he has to essentially play perfectly in what is ultimately a pretty predictable offense. I just don't like that the ball doesn't move around. If the Warriors can just setup every time and you are forced to iso and try to break down a wall of a defense, I don't like that. That can absolutely be part of the offense. A large part. But it can't be the only thing. It just feels shortsighted. And yeah they were able to blitz through the regular season with it, pounding on most of the league, but its not ideal against the one team you actually have to beat.

Once again though, I think context is always important. In any other context, what the Rockets are doing even though I think it has real flaws, might be enough in a normally balanced league. It's just probably not in a world where the Warriors as constructed exist.

Also the Rockets played pretty shitty tonight no matter what system they use so there's that.

Nola · « **Reply #20165 on:** May 21, 2018, 02:43:18 AM »

Yeah the Warriors, especially now with Durant, really seem like they are about the closest thing to a perfect team built as close to perfectly for this era that you can get. Playing at an advanced level within a system of basketball that is about as perfect a match as you can have.

You're right, you have to kind of step back and remember that when you are analyzing teams losing to them in the playoffs.

I'm basically just retreading ground, but the only world where I see a healthy Warriors team not make the finals for the next few years is one where Lebron coordinates going to Houston, they resign Capella, and ideally buy cap space on someone's roster to take Anderson and fill out the bench with 3 and D ring chasers. Essentially creating another all-time great roster. If you are the Wolves, Pelicans, Thunder, or Blazers, you would definitely be wise not to make major organizational moves because you can't beat GS. Lebron to Houston and Lebron and friends to the Lakers is probably your only real chance...Basically, if your already close to contending team can't land Lebron, I wouldn't sweat losing to a healthy Warriors.

team filler · « **Reply #20166 on:** May 21, 2018, 08:12:06 PM »

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20167 on:** May 21, 2018, 09:12:01 PM »

Another good Cavs first quarter. Tristan Thompson really making a difference here on the d side.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #20168 on:** May 21, 2018, 09:38:06 PM »

Kyle Korver is so damn good

agrajag · « **Reply #20169 on:** May 21, 2018, 09:45:07 PM »

Thompson is having a great game.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20170 on:** May 21, 2018, 09:49:35 PM »

Quote from: agrajag on May 21, 2018, 09:45:07 PM

Thompson is having a great game.

He's been legit essential the last two series.

After having a pretty dog shit season.

agrajag · « **Reply #20171 on:** May 21, 2018, 09:52:51 PM »

They only dust him off for the playoffs it seems

Highest half of the season for Cavs, lowest half of the season for Celtics. Yeah, they're not coming back.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20172 on:** May 21, 2018, 10:01:22 PM »

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I don't watch any of these talking head shows sports or non-sports.

[close]

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20173 on:** May 21, 2018, 10:53:46 PM »

Love has been awful tonight

bluemax · « **Reply #20174 on:** May 21, 2018, 11:04:40 PM »

It's crazy that we're down to the 4 best teams and none of the games have been close.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20175 on:** May 21, 2018, 11:13:51 PM »

Quote from: bluemax on May 21, 2018, 11:04:40 PM

It's crazy that we're down to the 4 best teams and none of the games have been close.

Wait until the finals when the Warriors steamroll whoever they play...

That being said, if I were the Celtics, I wouldn't come out of this one demoralized like the last game. There are a lot of things they can still exploit based on the cavs abundant weaknesses.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #20176 on:** May 21, 2018, 11:18:45 PM »

I don’t know. It looks like all Lebron needs to win against the Celtics is two role players scoring more than 10 points. Love was terrible tonight but Thompson and Korver were great

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #20177 on:** May 21, 2018, 11:19:03 PM »

But yes the Warriors will sweep the Cavs

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20178 on:** May 21, 2018, 11:22:26 PM »

Quote from: TakingBackSunday on May 21, 2018, 11:18:45 PM

I don’t know. It looks like all Lebron needs to win against the Celtics is two role players scoring more than 10 points. Love was terrible tonight but Thompson and Korver were great

Certainly possible. I just think the Celtics play so much better at home. It's really nite and day. Game 5 should be fun and the most competitive of the series.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20179 on:** May 21, 2018, 11:45:27 PM »

Lowe and Simmons together. Always decently fun.

Let's Cyber · « **Reply #20180 on:** May 21, 2018, 11:57:06 PM »

Probably going to 7 in the ECF. Just hoping for some closer, more competitive games before the finals.

Also, fuck the Rockets.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Reverse psychology.

[close]

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20181 on:** May 22, 2018, 09:11:42 PM »

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23540049/how-mike-dantoni-learned-embrace-iso-why-stop-now-nba

GS:12 Hou:0

agrajag · « **Reply #20182 on:** May 22, 2018, 09:16:05 PM »

It's a bloodbath

agrajag · « **Reply #20183 on:** May 22, 2018, 10:01:42 PM »

Based Beard!

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20184 on:** May 22, 2018, 10:05:33 PM »

Nice Rockets recovery.

Let's Cyber · « **Reply #20185 on:** May 22, 2018, 10:07:58 PM »

Is it happening? it feels like it's happening.

agrajag · « **Reply #20186 on:** May 22, 2018, 10:11:03 PM »

Guys keep talking bad about Houston, we can't jinx this

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20187 on:** May 22, 2018, 10:44:31 PM »

brutal. too many people to guard

agrajag · « **Reply #20188 on:** May 22, 2018, 10:48:47 PM »

Yeah, GSW are pretty much impossible to defend

agrajag · « **Reply #20189 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:08:03 PM »

what a game

agrajag · « **Reply #20190 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:25:36 PM »

The crazy iso bastards did it!

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20191 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:25:59 PM »

Super Impressive Rockets win. That's the heart and guts win people have been wanting out of them forever.

edit: At least in 0.05 seconds...

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20192 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:29:04 PM »

lol rockets gave him a really good look there.

Let's Cyber · « **Reply #20193 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:31:07 PM »

agrajag · « **Reply #20194 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:31:47 PM »

CP3 came through under pressure

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20195 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:33:09 PM »

I'm glad for Chris. He had a huge game there. I don't like all the shit he's gotten over the years for playoff stuff considering the teams he's been on.

Series is now best of 3 and Rockets have 2 of those games at home. You couldn't ask for a better situation at this point.

Game was fascinating for a lot of different reasons. I feel like I need to see it again to try to grasp it.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20196 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:40:59 PM »

https://twitter.com/ringer/status/999129079067557889

agrajag · « **Reply #20197 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:41:49 PM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on May 22, 2018, 11:33:09 PM

I'm glad for Chris. He had a huge game there. I don't like all the shit he's gotten over the years for playoff stuff considering the teams he's been on.

Series is now best of 3 and Rockets have 2 of those games at home. You couldn't ask for a better situation at this point.

Game was fascinating for a lot of different reasons. I feel like I need to see it again to try to grasp it.

Granted I haven't watched Harden play too much over the years, but this is the hardest I've seen him hustle defensively. Getting stops, steals.. The old cliche really rings true in this game, Houston wanted it more.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20198 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:42:47 PM »

For two such high powered offenses it kind of felt like a defensive game.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20199 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:45:21 PM »

team filler · « **Reply #20200 on:** May 23, 2018, 01:04:32 AM »

https://twitter.com/whoadiebrees/status/999147881205518336

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20201 on:** May 23, 2018, 07:54:57 AM »

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23570465/video-police-using-stun-gun-milwaukee-bucks-rookie-sterling-brown-worries-mayor

Brehvolution · « **Reply #20202 on:** May 23, 2018, 09:00:22 AM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on May 23, 2018, 07:54:57 AM

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23570465/video-police-using-stun-gun-milwaukee-bucks-rookie-sterling-brown-worries-mayor

I hope it's really bad and people lose their jobs.

Let's Cyber · « **Reply #20203 on:** May 23, 2018, 11:11:50 AM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on May 23, 2018, 07:54:57 AM

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23570465/video-police-using-stun-gun-milwaukee-bucks-rookie-sterling-brown-worries-mayor

"We're very sorry we got caught doing something to an NBA player that we usually get away with."

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20204 on:** May 23, 2018, 03:31:11 PM »

Just to put things in context Boston is 9-0 at home in the playoffs this year.

Also Boston has scored 111.9 points and allowed a 101.1 per 100 possessions at home, while scoring 98.3 points and conceding 111.2 per 100 possessions on the road.

So they really are nite and day.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20205 on:** May 23, 2018, 10:15:15 PM »

That homecourt difference...

also

https://deadspin.com/milwaukee-police-release-video-of-bucks-sterling-brown-1826275081

This is America edition.

bluemax · « **Reply #20206 on:** May 24, 2018, 01:22:10 AM »

I was listening on the radio while driving home and I think the announcer said that Cleveland has been held under 90 pts in the playoffs more than every other playoff team combined.

That's pretty crazy.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20207 on:** May 24, 2018, 02:44:36 AM »

Well Cleveland has the most variability of any of the teams. If the 3's are falling for the other players and Lebron has a good game they can put up numbers. But if the three's aren't falling then the team has a super low end where the offense is just the worst thing ever.

I think the modern abundance of three's also increases the occurrence of blowouts either because cold teams keep taking them or a hot team can really punish another team with them.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20208 on:** May 24, 2018, 09:29:53 PM »

Warriors held under 20 points for that first quarter. Doesn't happen alot

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20209 on:** May 24, 2018, 09:41:46 PM »

Harden is killing me a bit with all these stepback misses

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20210 on:** May 24, 2018, 10:09:31 PM »

Bit of a worrying half there for the Rockets. Feels like they should be up by 10 instead of tied but they blew a lot of chances.

Rockets 6 of 24 from 3 point range and a lot of those misses were wide open.

Chris Paul 0-7 2 points
Harden 4-13 9 points

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20211 on:** May 24, 2018, 11:30:20 PM »

lol Draymond

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20212 on:** May 24, 2018, 11:32:02 PM »

Ugly game. Hellaciously intense though.

Wonder how bad that Paul injury is

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20213 on:** May 24, 2018, 11:41:00 PM »

https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/999839936743288832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnba%2F2018%2F05%2F24%2Fchris-paul-mocks-steph-currys-shimmy-after-game-5-three-pointer%2F643458002%2F&tfw_creator=usatoday&tfw_site=usatoday

Brehvolution · « **Reply #20214 on:** May 25, 2018, 10:46:41 AM »

I couldn't understand why they didn't let Durant take the inbound and take it the rest of the way.

Steph is hurt, Klay is hurt, and yet they pass it to Draymond?

agrajag · « **Reply #20215 on:** May 25, 2018, 12:29:30 PM »

Fuuuuuck. Was hoping Houston could close it out at home.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20216 on:** May 25, 2018, 01:08:03 PM »

Quote from: agrajag on May 25, 2018, 12:29:30 PM

Fuuuuuck. Was hoping Houston could close it out at home.

Game 6 is in Oakland.

Game 7 is in Houston.

Unfortunate the Rockets basically have to concede game 6 and pray Paul is healthy enough to try to suit up for game 7.

agrajag · « **Reply #20217 on:** May 25, 2018, 01:19:40 PM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on May 25, 2018, 01:08:03 PM

Quote from: agrajag on May 25, 2018, 12:29:30 PM
Fuuuuuck. Was hoping Houston could close it out at home.

Game 6 is in Oakland.

Game 7 is in Houston.

Unfortunate the Rockets basically have to concede game 6 and pray Paul is healthy enough to try to suit up for game 7.

Oh well, that's better then. I missed last night's game, how bad was the hamstring injury?

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20218 on:** May 25, 2018, 01:29:26 PM »

It looked pretty bad. He was hobbled significantly. It was immediately obvious he wouldn't be playing in game 6 and I think its definitely up in the air if he can go in game 7 at the earliest.

Game 6 is less of a big deal, because they were unlikely to win that one anyway but Game 7 is the rough one. Houston's offense getting even more one dimensional in a game 7 is scary and Harden has struggled when its clear he is the only one to focus on in the offense.

agrajag · « **Reply #20219 on:** May 25, 2018, 02:02:55 PM »

Hoping Eric Gordon can have another great offensive game. They need to play a defensive game like they've been doing and just break GSW's will. I have no fath in Harden not crumbling under pressure though.

News:

Author Topic: The NBA thread (Read 1506389 times)